In an incident that seemed straight out of a science fiction film, a humanoid robot was escorted away by police after reportedly frightening a 70-year-old woman in Macau, China.
Local authorities said the woman was startled when she noticed the robot standing silently behind her as she paused to check her phone outside a residential complex at around 9pm. Believing it was following her, she reacted in panic, shouting and waving her bag at the machine.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, shows the woman confronting the small humanoid robot as it repeatedly raised its arms. Footage later captured two police officers guiding the Unitree G1 robot away from the scene, with one officer holding it by the shoulder.
Police clarified that the robot had stopped behind the woman while waiting for her to move out of its path, as it was navigating the area. Despite no physical contact occurring, the woman reportedly felt unwell after the encounter and was taken to hospital for a check-up. Doctors later confirmed she had not sustained any injuries.
Authorities returned the robot to its operator, a man in his 50s, and reminded him to exercise greater caution. The operator, who is linked to a nearby education centre using the robot for promotional purposes, has since apologised for the distress caused.
While the robot was not formally “arrested,” the unusual scene quickly drew widespread attention online. Social media users flooded comment sections with jokes, with some dubbing it the “first robot arrest,” while others debated whether the woman had overreacted.
The Unitree G1, a compact humanoid robot standing about 132cm tall, is capable of autonomous movement with remote supervision. Its presence in public spaces reflects a growing trend of integrating robotics into everyday environments.
The incident has also reignited discussions about the expanding role of robots in society. From surveillance machines in China to patrol robots in Singapore, and even predictions of robotic police officers in the near future, experts say such encounters may become increasingly common.
